Otak: F Street Bridge

Executive Summary

Independence, Oregon has enjoyed a renaissance over the past decade fueled by wine tourism within the central Willamette Valley. With extensive development along the riverfront, the city has positioned itself to be a prime jumping-off point for visitors and residents alike.

As the community re-invents itself, establishing a reliable network of roads and bridges to serve the expanding population has become a priority with the South Fork Ash Creek bridge crossing on F Street being an eyesore and roadblock to emergency vehicle traffic. With the assistance of funding through ODOT, the bridge was replaced. Given its proximity to Mt. Fir City Park, which hosts the Inspiration Garden arboretum, an ordinary highway-style bridge was not an appropriate solution in this historic neighborhood. Otak engineers and designers took the opportunity to introduce to Oregon the Washington D.C. historic railing which allows for the use of a historic-style handrailing on the bridge while still protecting traffic with a crash-tested bridge railing. Featuring this rail, pedestrian level lighting, and a rain garden to treat roadway storm runoff, the bridge is an attractive addition supporting the growth and rebirth of the Independence community.